Website: www.classwatch.co.uk
Telephone :0800 043 9510

Life without Classwatch is completely unthinkable for one much-improved inner London school.

"Above all Classwatch makes teachers feel safe and secure.You could go a year without needing the cameras but when an incident occurs and you do need them, you really need them," said Headteacher of Stockwell Park School, Judette Tapper.

"The teachers are a lot more relaxed about it now. At first some were slightly dubious, but now they realise that the cameras are there solely to deter and for information, they are now all for it," she said, adding: "The cameras have played a significant role in improving the school. Every time we have made a significant shift in behaviour management the cameras have been there to reinforce it as well as increase the sense of security around the school. They have been really quite critical in many ways. To be honest, I do not know what life would be like without the cameras."

The cameras were initially installed as a security measure to protect interactive white boards, but the school soon discovered numerous additional benefits of the Classwatch system:

Security
“Classwatch acts as a really good deterrent. We were having a lot of problems with people breaking in from outside. But now word has got around the community that cameras will catch anyone who comes into the school. As a result, incidents of intruders have dropped enormously," said deputy head, Mike Rush.
Positive Action
One of the reasons Classwatch has been so successful at Stockwell Park is the school only uses the system for positive action, such as to resolve a dispute or allegation, or to benefit teaching. It is not deployed to discipline members of staff and the standalone nature of the system means it cannot be viewed by just anyone.
 
Children
It is not just the teachers who have been won round by Classwatch, the pupils at the school are also in favour of the system.

“It has given the children a great sense of security and of their rights,” said Ms Tapper. “When an incident occurs, the children know the cameras will reinforce what has happened.”

“It is a good idea as we know what is going on and when there is a problem it can be stopped,” agreed a girl from Year 7. The pupils in Year 11 shared a similar sentiment. Here are just some of the positive comments voiced: “The cameras have calmed the school down.” “There are less fights than 2 years ago.” “I feel like I’m safer in the school now.”
Cost Effective
Classwatch has proved to be an extremely cost effective option for the school.

“We lease the equipment and this leaves us able to increase or decrease the number of cameras and change to rotating or zoom cameras. Whatever is most effective. It is all about being safe and if it is not safe, learning does not happen,” said Ms Tapper.

“We have not had any major technical difficulties and when we do have a problem the engineers are prompt and competent. All in all, our experience has been entirely positive and we are definitely looking to increasing the number of Classwatch systems we have.
 
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